On Sunday, Nguyen Thi Hong Luu stood out among the 2,600 fresh graduates attending South Can Tho University's graduation ceremony as she held the honor of being the eldest among her peers.
Luu stood out as one of the distinguished graduates, having achieved graduation "with excellence."
With her degree tightly grasped in her hands, she expressed her immense pride for the arduous journey she had embarked on and successfully completed.
Expressing her joy and pride, she enthusiastically shared, "Completing the program that I am deeply passionate about and fulfilling a dream cherished for several decades fills my heart with happiness. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my teachers who have guided and supported me throughout this incredible journey."
Luu, currently residing in Tan An City, is the proud parent of three children who have all ventured into the fields of pharmacology and medicine. Unfortunately, her husband passed away three decades ago following a debilitating illness.
As a young child, Luu dreamt of pursuing a career in pharmacology. However, due to her family's financial limitations, she was unable to pursue this educational path. Consequently, she decided to embrace her passion for teaching and became a primary school educator instead.
After retiring in 2003, she embarked on a journey to fulfill her childhood aspirations. Determined, she enrolled in an intermediate school and subsequently pursued higher education at a college during the same year. Undeterred by age, in 2020, at the remarkable age of 72, she made the bold decision to enroll in a university and pursue an official degree in pharmacology.
She mentioned that, from then on, she would wake up at 3 a.m. every weekend in order to catch the ferry and travel from Long An to Can Tho for her studies.
Being the oldest student at South Can Tho University, she was determined to give her utmost dedication towards attending lectures, diligently taking notes, and actively studying supplementary materials.
She expressed her intention to establish her own pharmacy upon completing this degree.
According to Do Van Mai, the deputy head of the Pharmacology Department at the university, he commended Luu for her commendable efforts and unwavering determination. He also stated that she serves as an exemplary role model for others to emulate.
